From the Judge’s Seat to the Arena: Juan Carlos Campos at IBERICON 2026

2026 Ibericon

FEI 4* judge and FEI-certified Young Horse Judge Juan Carlos Campos will make his first U.S. appearance as a featured guest, presenting a two-day seminar focused on the preparation and presentation of Iberian young horses.

IBERICON 2026 continues to unveil its program for its third edition, taking place October 15–18 at World Equestrian Center – Ocala.

For the first time in the United States, Juan Carlos Campos will lead a two-day FEI Young Horse Seminar specifically focused on Iberian horses, their correct preparation and presentation at FEI Young Horse levels.

“The position we have as judges in competition is the best seat in the stadium.” This perspective will be at the heart of the seminar, giving riders, trainers and breeders the opportunity to better understand what judges look for and how a young horse’s preparation translates into the competition arena.

Two mornings with Juan Carlos Campos

The seminar will take place Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. Each morning will include approximately two hours of lecture and ridden demonstrations, followed by 30 minutes of discussion and Q&A.

Topics will include:

Correct preparation and presentation of the young horse.
FEI judging criteria at Young Horse levels.
Development through the different stages.
The judge’s perspective and evaluation in the arena.
The young horse market.
Pathways to the FEI World Young Horse Championships through national federations.

About Juan Carlos Campos

Campos began his international judging career in 2003, attending courses in Poland and England. He became an FEI 3judge in 2005* and an FEI 4 judge in 2008. In 2015, he became an FEI-certified Young Horse Judge after passing his examination in Verden, Germany, during the World Young Horse Championships.

Since then, he has judged at major international venues and competitions including Aachen, Ocala, Wellington, European Championships for Juniors and Young Riders, Nations Cups, Future Champions in Hagen, and the FEI World Young Horse Championships.

The World Young Horse Championships have been a particularly important part of his career, with Campos officiating at Ermelo in 2017, 2022, 2023, 2025 and most recently in 2026.

Campos will Judge the IBERICON Iberian Cup

Following the seminar, Campos will remain at IBERICON throughout the weekend as part of the international judging panel for the IBERICON Iberian Cup, taking place Friday and Saturday (October 16-17)

For the first time, the Iberian Cup will be held as a stand-alone, non-rated competition exclusively for purebred Iberian horses, celebrating their contribution to international dressage.

The panel will include FEI 4 Judge Juan Carlos Campos, USEF “S” Judge Sue Kolstad and Spanish RFHE “A” Judge David Merida*, with Evin Rattner of World Equestrian Center serving as Official Show Manager.

The competition will feature FEI 5 and 6-Year-Old classes, Small Tour (Prix St. Georges and Intermediate I Freestyle), and Big Tour (Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle). Winners will be recognized during the Final IBERICON Awards Ceremony on Sunday.

With Juan Carlos Campos joining the program, IBERICON reinforces its vision of becoming a leading meeting point for breeders, riders, trainers, judges and Iberian horse enthusiasts, combining top-level competition with education and professional development.